Russell Brand has opened up about his brief marriage to pop star Katy Perry, admitting that he felt "inadequate" and hoped the union would make him feel more complete. In a recent interview with conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, the comedian and actor, now 50, said he pushed for an early marriage because he was insecure.
"I felt like I was inadequate and not enough on my own, so I saw this big, glorious thing, even though I knew her as a person, just a normal person."
Brand, who married Perry in 2010 after about a year of dating, acknowledged that his expectations placed "unnecessary pressure and strain" on the singer. He confessed to wanting to "grab her" as a way to prove he had "made it big," but Perry's success ultimately left him feeling isolated.
The marriage ended in December 2011 when Brand broke up with Perry via text message, just before she was scheduled to perform in São Paulo, Brazil. The emotional moment was captured in her concert documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me.
Despite the public split, Brand said he still keeps in touch with Perry's parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, describing them as "good Christian folks." However, he revealed that he and Perry have not spoken since their divorce.
Brand has since married Laura Brand in 2017, with whom he shares two daughters, Mabel and Peggy. Meanwhile, Perry has moved on with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a relationship that Brand publicly criticized in December 2025, saying he felt lumped into a category with a "globalist stooge."
Perry, who has a daughter, Daisy Dove, with her current partner Orlando Bloom, appears unfazed by Brand's comments. The singer's past relationships include Matt Thiessen of Relient K, actor Johnny Lewis, and musician Travis McCoy, among others.